The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-05

REASONABLE That one can be so lifted out
of the Respondent moods of ignorance,
sorrow and sin as to constantly dwell in
the upper air of the hopeful 1 am not
trying to affirm that it is impossible to
turn at once from the wiles of the earth
to the glories of heaven. But it appears
to my mind stupendous strain on
credulity, to suppose those glories can
be reached at once. 1t is quite natural
to turn Immediately from Jericho to face
Jerusalem, but that does not bring you
within the sacred enclosure. 1t is after
your feet have pressed the rough stones,
and your body grown weary with the
heightened journey, and your soul
bowed down with long-deferred realiza-
ton, that at last you behold in clearer
detail, the grand buildings and press
against the celestial gate which opens
to the holy city. A difficulty in the way
of spiritual growth lies in the great ex-
pectancy Of those who first enter the
way. They look for balmy breezes and
fairest skies, for harmony, peace and
joy. All these scarcely ever come in
this life, but the persistent, patient
wayfarer learns at last to be hopeful
under all conditions, and with fair pros
poets continually before him, gains the
largest measure Of life's blessing here,
and enters into the ever blooming fields
of eternity with developed faculties
ready for the assimilation of beauty,
truth and righteousness there.
8. Love. This is the great test. Rare in
deed is the soul which is moulded COM
pletely by this holy enduring agency sent
from the upper world to give CLEANS be-
low OF that undying light which ligtheth
the kingdom of heaven without the aid
of sun, moon or stars. The lover may
at first sight be smitten with Cupid's
arrow, and wonder if any one ever ex-
| perlenced such wondrous divine joy as
he. 1t comes to him in after days that
but the tinsel of affection glittered be-
fore him. The pure gold Of devotion
was developed under care, ministration,
association and continuity of life-work
together. The mother looks into the
eyes of her beautiful babe, and her face
lights up with an inexpressible light of
| JOY. Her love for the child increases
day after day, and in all her moods
there is but more frequent draughts
from the inexhaustible fountain of de-
voted affection. But it is only as the
little one begins to float away on the tide
of death that the deeps of her soul assert
their fulness. Those little fingers are
entwined in the exquisitely-tensioned
strings of the mothers heart. Slowly
the pillows Of the dark river bear the
little life on, and those tender, high
strung strings, under the preternatural
touch of the baby fingers, blend in sad,
sweet strain of soulful melody which
sings of that mighty love brought to it's
full power under the trial of separation.
No more can we expect to love each
other truly and fully, and thus come
to the true appreciation and love of God,
till in innumerable ways we have been
tried by suffering, temptation, sadness,
separation, deathe Love is the fruit of
the loom of endurance. Love is the
jewel which has been brought to the
light from the underground turned,
polished, transformed. Love is the pure
gold which has come out from the pro-
cess of publication, and from under the
trip-hammer of affection energies with
the superscription and image of God.
These are the results of true religious
experience. They come not in. a mo-
ment, they are not exhausted in years,
if ever. In faithfulness, hopefulness,
love, we have rebuke to all assertions
of completeness of the God-light in the
heart of him who has just awakened to
see the dawn of better day. The Christ
spirit demands continuous following in
the way, and the freedom of truth is
the gift of God unto him who contin-
ues faithful, hopeful, loving forever and
forever.